U.S. employers post 3.8 million jobs, highest figure in four years

U.S. employers posted 3.8 million jobs in June, the most positions in four years, the Labor Department reported Tuesday.

The figure is slightly higher than May's seasonally adjusted 3.7 million and signals that more hiring may be ahead.

The report by the Labor Department follows Friday's job report, which indicated the country had added 163,000 jobs in July, ending a three-month spell of weak job growth and easing fears of an economic stall.

Still, Wednesday's job openings report showed that job seekers face a competitive hiring market. With about 12.7 million still unemployed, there are about 3.4 unemployed people for every job available.

June's job postings are 2.4 million more than those in June 2009, when the recession ended, according to the Labor Department.

Several industries posted more job openings in June than they had the month before. They included construction, manufacturing, and leisure and hospitality. The number of job openings in government fell.

Over the 12-month period ending in June, the U.S. saw a net employment gain of 1.8 million.